• A.V. DEL CARMEN
One of the well-cheered and widely-followed players of the UAAP teams that saw action in the 26th Season of the Philippine National University Games held in Bacolod City late in October was Jersey No. 20 of the University of the East Red Warriors.
The player is 6-footer outside hitter and team captain Isaiah John ‘Sai’ Roca, a junior Entrepreneurship major under the UE Business Administration Program.
Among his Unigames supporters were family, friends and supporters from San Enrique and La Carlota, where he started his volleyball journey during grade school days.
The Red Warriors finished runner-up in the Unigames competition to UAAP rivals National University and Adamson University.
Sai, 21, who is also called ‘Rocs’ (derived from his family name), is the fifth of the six children of Rosano Roca, a farmer, and wife, Evener. His siblings are Janine and Kent Alexander, mechanical and civil engineer, respectively; Mary Chris, who is reviewing for the Agricultural Engineering board exam; Roseven, a BS Biology graduate who plans to pursue medical studies and Niño Justin, a Chemical Engineering sophomore at Colegio San Agustin Bacolod. The Rocas are residents of Barangay Baliwagan.
Negros Weekly had a Q&A interview with Sai.
Please describe your background as a volleyball player.
My journey as a volleyball player began when I was in Grade 4 at La Carlota South Elementary School-1. I was always curious about how volleyball worked, and every day after class, I would eagerly watch the team practice.
Eventually, I gathered the courage to ask their trainer—and with encouragement from my best friend—if I could join. After several days of training, they chose me to be part of the team, and that’s how my volleyball story began.
I competed for three years in the elementary division and proudly helped Team La Carlota City achieve a historic win at the 2017 Negros Island Region Athletic Association Meet held in Dumaguete City.
I continued pursuing my passion in high school at DHSBNHS, representing La Carlota City for three years. During that time, we earned back-to-back championships in the Area Meet and secured a silver medal at the 2019 Provincial Meet.
The pandemic temporarily paused my volleyball journey, but after it ended, I tried out for the Far Eastern University-Diliman high school volleyball program. Coach Rjay Del Rosario saw my potential and welcomed me to their rebuilding team.
I studied at FEU-Diliman Senior High for two years and played in UAAP Season 85, where we won the championship. It was FEU-Diliman’s first-ever boys’ volleyball title.
After graduating from FEU-Diliman, I initially planned to continue playing for their seniors’ team, but things changed. I later tried out for the UE Men’s Volleyball Team.
I’ve now been playing for the University of the East for three years, and while the team has faced a drought for several seasons, we remain motivated to rise and make our mark in UAAP Season 88.
What were the other highlights of your elementary and high school volleyball life?
I chose volleyball because of my cousin, Angela Roca. Watching her play sparked my curiosity, and when I was studying at LCSES-1, that interest turned into passion. She and my early coaches helped me learn the fundamentals and inspired me to pursue the sport seriously.
One of the highlights of my elementary volleyball career was winning the NIRAA Meet in 2017, which qualified our team for the Palarong Pambansa held in Antique. We placed fourth overall – a historic achievement for the La Carlota City Elementary volleyball team.
In high school, I experienced back-to-back Area Meet championships and a silver medal finish at the 2019 Provincial Meet. Another major highlight was joining the FEU-Diliman Junior Volleyball Program and winning the UAAP Season 85 championship – the school’s first-ever title in the boys’ division.
How did you get into the UE program? What do you think are the reasons that got you into it?
In 2023, after graduating from senior high school, I tried out for the UE Men’s Volleyball Team. The coaches saw my potential and immediately welcomed me into the program.
Since then, I’ve proudly represented the UE community for three years and even helped the team win pre-season tournaments such as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation U21 Championship.
Please describe your Unigames experience? Did your friends and family come to watch?
Playing again in my hometown during the Unigames was such a memorable experience. It felt great to perform in front of a familiar crowd, revisit old courts, and feel the strong support of the Negros Island Region volleyball community.
My family, friends, and colleagues were overjoyed when I told them I’d be playing back home—they made time to watch and cheer for me, which made the experience even more special.
As the current UE team captain, what is your particular role? What challenges do you face being the team leader?
As the current team captain, my role is to lead by example—both on and off the court. I aim to be a role model and a dependable ‘kuya’ to my teammates, most of whom are rookies and sophomores.
I try to be someone they can turn to whenever they need advice or encouragement.
Leadership comes with challenges—balancing personal struggles with team responsibilities—but I always remind myself that true leadership means facing challenges together and finding solutions as one team.
What are the Warriors’ goal for the coming UAAP season?
For UAAP Season 88, our main goal as the UE Men’s Volleyball Team is to secure victories and break into the win column. We want to prove that we belong among the top teams and move up from the lower ranks in the standings. Our focus is on consistency, teamwork, and restoring the pride of the Red and White.
How do u describe yourself as a student?
I am currently a third year BSBA student majoring in Entrepreneurship. Over my three years at UE, I’ve learned how to balance academics and volleyball effectively. Our coaches always remind us that success isn’t just about what happens inside the court—it’s also about achieving in the classroom and growing as individuals. My goal is to graduate on time and make both my family and school proud.
What are your career plans? Is professional volleyball part of these plans?
To be honest, I don’t see myself pursuing professional volleyball – not because I doubt my abilities, but because I also want to experience the corporate world. My goal is to work, build a stable career, and give back to my family who has supported me throughout my journey.
Of course, volleyball will always be part of my life, but my ultimate dream is to succeed both in sports and in business.
Overall, what does volleyball mean to you?
Volleyball has been part of my life for 11 years—more than half of my lifetime. It has shaped me into who I am today, teaching me discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. Because of volleyball, I’ve been able to travel, meet incredible people, and grow not just as an athlete but as a person. Simply put, volleyball isn’t just something I play—it’s part of who I am.
Your word of encouragement for aspiring volleyball players…
As my favorite quote says, “Work hard in silence, and let your success make the noise.” Always give your 100% in everything you do—whether it’s training or competition.
Stay teachable, stay humble and always remember why you started playing in the first place. There will be tough days, but those challenges are what make victory meaningful. Keep going and trust the process. | Cover Photo by Kimberly Pauig, other photos courtesy of IJRoca
